Category Archives: Dental Dow Jones

For the year, practice production was up 6.1%. Collections were up 4.3%. Patient traffic increased 2.4%. New patients were up 2.7%. Crown and Bridge was up 9.4%. Production per patient examined was up 4.2%. All in all then, 2017 was the strongest growth year since the “Great Recession”.

GROWTH CONTINUES—THE FIRST QUARTER 2016 DENTAL DOW: Continuing the trend of growth from last year, practice Production is up 6.1% and Collections are up 6% compared to the first quarter of 2015 for the mature area practices sampled. Patient Flow was up 3.9%. New Patients were up about 2.7% (they were up about 7% in 2015).

The highest Doctor Production per Hour in our Dental Dow sample is $1,484. The highest Hygiene Production per Hour is $213. The Average Doctor Production per Hour is $652. The Average Hygiene Production per Hour is $151. Again, keep in mind that this is a group of mature practices and a mix of Metro and Outstate locations as well.

EVERYONE ON YOUR TEAM HAS TO DEAL WITH PATIENTS, MONEY AND INSURANCE. MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW!

Comparing 2015 to 2014 statistics for the mature area practices sampled, we found that practice production was up 6% and collections were up 4.8%.

Total patient flow was up 3% with New Patients being up 7.3%. The average production per exam was up 3.2%.

Metro Area Fees were up 1.3%. Outstate Area Fees were up 1.7%.

Producon Increase Percentages

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

0.5%

1.4%

2.5%

3.3%

3.3%

4.2%

6.0%

Collecon Increase Percentages

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

0.4%

0.4%

1.6%

3.5%

2.2%

3.1%

4.8%

As you can see, this is the most growth in 7 years.

Our Dow, a sampling of both Rural and Urban practices, shows an average collection percentage of 84% – down a percentage point from last year. The Collection percentage has slipped by around 1 point per year for the past five years. Doctors are raising fees but, of course, PPO Participation is affecting Collections.

Comparing the first half of this year to last year for the sample mature area practices, we find practice production is up 6% and collections are up 5.5%, continuing the trend from the first quarter.

Total patient flow (as measured by exams) is up 3.5% with new patient exams up 6%. Crown and bridge is up 2.7%. The gross collection percentage for the sampled practices is 85%, consistent with last year. I guess we can be happy that it hasn’t slipped another notch this year.

The trend to fuller Doctor and hygiene schedules continues too with Doctor downtime reduced by 15% and hygiene downtime by about 5%. Back in the ‘90’s, 6% used to be sort of assumed background growth. Now, this is the best trend in many years and over 75% of sampled practices showed growth.